As mayor of Ewing Township, I am inspired every day by the people of our town, by their hopes, dreams, friendship and personal stories. The tragedy that struck our town March 4 has upheld my belief that Ewing Township exemplifies what it means to be a strong and spirited community.
On that date, a devastating explosion occurred, engulfing a neighborhood of townhouses in the South Fork development. 55 homes were damaged in the explosion, with several deemed uninhabitable.
Tragically, one family lost even more — a beloved friend and mother — and seven other people were injured.
During times of painful uncertainty, strong communities are called to action, and the Ewing community rose to the call from the moment the first alarm was sounded.
Understandably, the community was frightened at the magnitude of the explosion. Before we even knew the impact, our concerns focused on our friends and neighbors.
It took a troop of professionals to begin to restore a sense of calm during a time of confusion.
All the first responders, especially the firefighters at West Trenton Fire Station 33, who realized what had happened mere moments after the explosion, quickly took control of the scene and began knocking down the fire and searching to rescue people who possibly were trapped.
Our dedicated law-enforcement officials — police, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel — quickly established command and tirelessly began their investigation.
Mutual aid support was instantly offered by the New Jersey State Police, the Mercer County sheriff and the administration of Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, who, without hesitation, activated the county Emergency Operations Center, marshaling services for confused and displaced residents.
Outside the Ewing community, a band of agencies and officials offered any and all assistance, and we are grateful for those relationships.
At Ewing town hall, even as they were gripped with fear about the safety of friends or co-workers, our community of municipal employees stepped up to offer any resource they could provide, even if it was simply a warm bed in their own home for a displaced resident.
Thanks to the American Red Cross, no one was without a safe, comfortable place to sleep on the night of the explosion.
In the days immediately following the disaster, thousands of citizens across our region united, opening their hearts, their homes and their wallets to the residents affected by the traumatizing event. Schools, faith-based organizations, civic groups, kind individuals, local businesses and national corporations offered an outpouring of support that exceeded our wildest expectations.
Because of that generosity, at the Red Cross Family Resource Center event that took place March 15 at the Ewing Community Center, we were able address many of the immediate needs of the people who have no homes to return to and set a course to meet the long-term needs of all those who are affected.
This tragedy is still fresh in our minds, and we know it will take some time for us to pick up the pieces. This event has changed many of us forever. It has made us bigger in spirit and more courageous in outlook. We’ve all been inspired by the personal stories of the families at the epicenter.
We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for them, and we mourn with them for the loss of our neighbor, and join in prayer for speedy recovery for those who were hurt. It is our heartfelt hope and desire that the spirit of the Ewing community will once again get them back on their feet.
Bert Steinmann
Mayor, Ewing Township
